Who's liable for bill?

Katy1066

My partner moved out of the house he co owns with his ex in Dec 2015. He signed over energy bills to her and she opened them in her name. The house was on the market.
In the summer she moved out. She didn't tell him and the next thing he knows is last week the estate agent calls to say British Gas has a warrant to change the meter because the bill hasn't been paid. They let them in else they would have broken in. Bills are £600 for gas and £400 for electricity. £200 for court costs.
His ex asked him not to go to the house without giving her notice and the couple of times he did (to tidy garden for viewings) the heating was on full and various lights had been left on. Hence he had no idea she had gone as cups left in sink and furniture still there.
She is saying she closed her energy account when she left. Bills to 'the occupier' now found in house and she is refusing to pay. If she had turned off lights/heating then bills would have been lower and shared between her and my partner. I'm annoyed bill is so high and house now has pay as you go meter as a consequence. As my partner half owns house is he liable even though she was last named on energy account?
Any advice?

molerat

On an occupier leaving the bill would be the responsibility of the owners jointly and I think if the energy co went to court they would probably get a judgement against either or both of them on that basis. The problem he now has that failing to pay this could trash his (and his ex's) credit file. Is there equity in the property, are there solicitors involved in the distribution of assets ?

Xbigman

If the house was empty after the ex left how did a £1000 bill build up. Standing charges for a year are £150 - £200 at most. I'd want to check the dates and meter readings. Something is wrong here.




Darren

molerat

Xbigman wrote: »

If the house was empty after the ex left how did a £1000 bill build up. Standing charges for a year are £150 - £200 at most. I'd want to check the dates and meter readings. Something is wrong here.

Katy1066 wrote: »

................. His ex asked him not to go to the house without giving her notice and the couple of times he did (to tidy garden for viewings) the heating was on full and various lights had been left on. .............................
................................ If she had turned off lights/heating then bills would have been lower and shared between her and my partner.........................

Of course ex may have been a bit economical when submitting her closing reads but proving it is another matter.

Cardew

It is a 'third party dispute' as far as the Energy company is concerned and they cannot get involved in the 'blame game'.

The only practical solution is that the bill is paid and deducted 50/50 from the proceeds of the house sale. Getting lawyers involved will only add to the costs.